Guangzhou R & F – Jiangsu Suning

Having finished fifth last season, and having seen their city rivals clinch the title, Guangzhou R&F will have come into the new campaign hoping to kick forward. After four matches, it’s fair to say that things have gone well, as Stojkovic’s men have won three of their five matches, though they were rather embarrassingly beaten (by five goals to two) when facing Shanghai SIPG a few weeks back. Friday’s hosts did bounce back last time out when they got the better of Yatai by two goals to one, though, yet again, they looked somewhat shaky at the back. Since Jiangsu have started the season in reasonably useful scoring form, it’s likely that hosts will need to sharpen up defensively if they’re to come out on top.

Unlike, Friday’s hosts, Jiangsu, who finished the last campaign down in 12th place, won’t have any delusions of grandeur; they’re unlikely to be thinking of a title or even a Champions League spot, but they will be looking to make some sort of progress. After a pleasing first match of the season, which saw Friday’s visitors come out on top by three goals to one against Guizhou Zhicheng, Jiangsu have regressed slightly and have paid the price defensively on more than one occasion. After two losses on the spin, Cosmin Olăroiu’s men did bounce back last time out, but they were once again shaky at the back. Like the home side, they too need to improve defensively.

On paper, the hosts are the stronger side and that is very much reflected in the betting ahead of this match. However, Guangzhou have been none too convincing so far. It may still be early days, but their defensive performances over the first few weeks have been well below the level required. Keeping both this and the fact that Jiangsu, who’ve scored in 100% of their matches this season, have been doing well going forward of late, it’s easy to feel that the hosts are somewhat overpriced.

With the hosts having defended poorly in each of their matches so far this season, it’s not difficult to see the visitors doing well from an offensive point of view, even if they too look poor at the back. Not only have Jiangsu been scoring goals this season – the visitors come here having scored in each of their four matches, scoring seven in total – but they’ve also looked creative. In each of their matches, with the skilful Alex Teixeira pulling the strings in the final third, Jiangsu have made light work of forging goal-scoring opportunities. With the aforementioned Brazilian getting on the ball and making things happen and with the pace of someone like Richmond Boakye running in behind, Jiangsu should be able up to causing their hosts plenty of problems.

In summary, with the hosts having given plenty away (and with the visitors looking dangerous going forward), it’s very easy to feel that the possibility of visiting goals has been massively underestimated. On this basis, backing Jiangsu to exploit the Guangzhou R&F’s defensive problems makes plenty of sense.

Head To Head

Jiangsu don’t exactly have the best record in this fixture, as they’ve failed to win any of the last nine renewals. Of those nine, Guangzhou R&F have won five. When the pair last met, back in 2017, Guangzhou came out on top in what was a six-goal thriller.

Guangzhou R And F vs Jiangsu Suning Stats

Both Guanghzou R&F and Jiangsu have scored in 100% of Chinese Super League matches this season.

This pair have kept just one clean sheet between them in their combined eight league matches this season.

Guangzhou R And F Team News

Guangzhou, who have no fresh injury concerns ahead of this match, are expected to be at full strength on Friday.

Jiangsu Suning Team News

Wu Xi is a doubt for the visitors, though they do have cover. Ramires and Boakye are both available which is plus. Key player Alex Teixeira is likely to feature prominently once again.